Road Glide vs Electra Glide -- why the difference?
#1
Road Glide vs Electra Glide -- why the difference?
I've been contemplating trading up to an EG Ultra or Limited so I went to my local dealer to crunch some numbers. We put some initial figures together but he didn't have a Limited for me to demo at the time. As I was leaving he offered to let me take a Road Glide out for a bit. A Road Glide has never been on my short list, mainly due to my opinion of the aesthetics, but I thought "what the hell." Long story short, I was BLOWN AWAY by how well that bike handled. The slow speed stability was second to none, even two-up with my wife. A week later I finally got the opportunity to demo an EG Limited. While it did ride and handle well, I didn't think there was any comparison with the Road Glide (and I was underwhelmed with the 103 motor, but that's a topic for another day). What accounts for such a drastic difference between the two models? I can't imagine the fixed fairing is the explanation, but maybe I'm wrong. Regardless, that RG was one sweet-riding machine.
#3
20 lb fairing mounted on the handlebars does make a significant difference. From what I've been reading, the frame mounted fairing is far superior in high winds also.
#4
I've got an Ultra and from what i've heard the RG puts it to shame. But i still love mine. Just done a lotta work to it myself and it does what i need it to. If i was to buy a new one, the RG it would probably be..... Good luck.
#5
I switched from a street glide to a road glide this summer. Since my SG was an 08 and the RG is a 10 I can't compare apples to apples on the handling because of the new frame. What I can tell you is that on the highway the RG and sharknose fairing is far superior to the batwing I had from a wind perspective. The steering stays light in any wind conditions and the bike isn't fighting crosswinds. On my SG it felt like the bike was pushing a barn door through the wind at higher spees and the RG doesn't feel like that at all.
#6
In addition, the geometry of the front end is different on a Road Glide.
I just made a deal to trade my SG for a 2011 Road Glide Ultra in Vivid Black. I should have it in about 10 days.
I just made a deal to trade my SG for a 2011 Road Glide Ultra in Vivid Black. I should have it in about 10 days.
#7
It's growing on me, though. One more demo ride may just do it...
Maybe HD can figure out how to adopt the same geometry on the EGs for 2012
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#8
I went from a '07 Road Glide to this 2011 Road Glide Ultra - and the grin gets bigger every time I ride it!
As with all the new ones, be prepared to do pipes, a/c and fuel management.
The batwings all feel too cramped to me. When I get too feeble to handle a RG, I'll trike one.....
#9
According to HD specs the geometry on all touring bikes is the same (26 degree rake, 6.69 in trail).... the only difference between the RG & EG or SG is that the fairing is frame mounted on the RG.